I just learned of a Dell employee that took his own life. It’s still unconfirmed but there are multiple people providing details that he was part of a recent layoff. As HPE employees brace themselves for impact, I wanted to reach out in case anyone would have any similar inclination. Even if you are merely upset, I want to offer encouragement.
There is definitely life after layoff. A layoff is a temporary setback. Often it’s not even a setback. Let’s face it: HPE is a struggling company. Sometimes you are too afraid to leave a mediocre situation because you have family commitments, you are comfortable and fear uncertainty, or are making a reasonable amount of money. A layoff can be the push you didn’t know you need.
A layoff isn’t a statement of your worth. It means one or more of the following:
- The company is desperate and needs to show temporary improvement to P&L.
- The company is shifting strategy and your position is not part of that strategy.
Sometimes there are people that are included in the layoff for performance reasons. Be honest with yourself so that you can make the necessary adjustments. Trying to hide shortcomings must be exhausting. Nobody is perfect. Strive to be valuable and you will have inner confidence and peace.
It may take a little while to land something. Don’t be discouraged if it’s not your dream job. You can always leave. Companies give you money in exchange for your labor. As you have seen, they will cancel that agreement at any time. You can as well. It’s actually liberating when you start thinking that way.
Work your network to find a new role. In my experience, people are happy to help if they can.
If you can’t find a decent position as an FTE within a few months, consider contract work. There are many benefits to doing so:
- It will keep your skills sharp and enable you to pick up new ones.
- You will have fresher stories and more confidence when you interview for other spots.
- Because of the lower commitment of hiring a contractor, you may actually find a position that is much more interesting even if it is officially temporary.
- Large companies have DEI initiatives that my be discriminatory against you. They may hire contractors to do the necessary work if they can’t find someone to check their boxes. Use this to your advantage.
- Your flexibility will open other doors you hadn’t thought about.
When you are back on your feet a bit, arrange your life so that you aren’t so dependent on your job. You may not be able to set yourself up to not have to work again, but you can make it so you don’t have to work for a short/medium period of time. Save, invest, and make sure your expenses are well within your means. Then be ruthless with companies when it comes to compensation. Always look out for #1. They aren’t looking out for you.
I’m not just talking happy bullsh-t. I speak from experience.
Remember, a job is just a job. It doesn’t define you. It may hurt a little at first, but even Mike Tyson took some punches directly to the face. Take your lumps and move forward. People will have tremendous respect for your resilience.